Location

Guatemala: Antigua

Program Summary

The IVHQ Guatemala Eco-Agriculture Conservation project is based in a coffee farming community, located at the base of the Guatemalan highlands just outside of Antigua. The coffee co-operative that you will be volunteering with was set up with the help of a non-profit organization that focuses on economic development and sustainable agriculture in Guatemala. The farmers all work between one and seven acres of land that they themselves own. All coffee is organic, shade grown, hand processed and sun dried. As a volunteer alongside these farmers, you will provide support and participate in every step of the coffee growing, harvesting, and marketing process. This includes working in the nursery, coffee-picking, weeding, planting shade trees, and even roasting packaging of the final product for local and international sales. The high coffee harvesting season is from December until early March, but there is plenty of work to do all year round. In addition to the coffee co-operative, you may also be ...

Program Summary

The IVHQ Guatemala Eco-Agriculture Conservation project is based in a coffee farming community, located at the base of the Guatemalan highlands just outside of Antigua. The coffee co-operative that you will be volunteering with was set up with the help of a non-profit organization that focuses on economic development and sustainable agriculture in Guatemala. The farmers all work between one and seven acres of land that they themselves own. All coffee is organic, shade grown, hand processed and sun dried. As a volunteer alongside these farmers, you will provide support and participate in every step of the coffee growing, harvesting, and marketing process. This includes working in the nursery, coffee-picking, weeding, planting shade trees, and even roasting packaging of the final product for local and international sales. The high coffee harvesting season is from December until early March, but there is plenty of work to do all year round. In addition to the coffee co-operative, you may also be involved with local agriculture and reforestation efforts. The farmers in this co-operative are also in the process of building a school for their community. Some volunteers may be asked to help the farmers with the construction work on the school.

Depending on the season and the needs of the project, volunteers will take part in:
- Harvesting and processing coffee beans
- Tending to the coffee tree nursery
- Planting and pruning coffee trees
- Packaging and marketing of coffee
- Fertilizing the fields with organic matter (coffee husks)
- Reforestation projects
- Supporting supplemental agriculture projects
- Translating for Coffee Farm Tours
- Repairing coffee production equipment
- Assisting in construction projects
- Tending to the small farm animals
- If desired, assisting with international marketing and sales of the coffee.

It is highly recommended that volunteers bring a pair of work gloves, sturdy boots, bug repellent, a wide-brimmed and sun protection to the eco-agriculture site. Volunteers stay with other IVHQ Guatemala volunteers in the nearby town of Antigua in homestay accommodation and commute to the coffee plantation each day.

Program Highlights

10 Great Reasons to choose IVHQ for your volunteering experiences:

* Affordability – Low program fees which focus on getting more and more people to volunteer abroad and help those in need!
* Flexibility - We work with you to arrange your trip!
* Quality - High quality programs and great feedback from past volunteers! Over 40000 volunteers cannot be wrong!
* Support - Dedicated IVHQ volunteer abroad program coordinator to help your arrange your trip!
* Safety - All locations and accommodation, vetted by IVHQ staff!
* Friendship - Thousands of volunteers annually meaning you will meet lots of volunteers to volunteer and socialize with!
* Need – Hundreds of projects around the world that need volunteers!
* Loyalty - Long term partnerships with communities meaning real change!
* Experience - Over 40000 volunteers placed around the world making us one of the world's most experienced organizations!
* Enjoyment - "The best experience of my life!" Thousands of volunteers say this to us every year - we are sure you will too!

They then pay a program fee, dependent on the duration of their volunteer program, which covers accommodation and meals during volunteer placement period, airport pick up, orientation, program supervision, in-country 24/7 volunteer support and in-country administration costs. Volunteers are responsible for their own flights, visas, travel insurance and vaccinations (where required).

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Agriculture

Conservation

Economic Development

Environment

Organic Farming

Typical Volunteer

The majority of our volunteers are aged between 18 and 30, but we do have many older volunteers participate on our programs and we welcome all volunteers regardless of their age.